Livingston Is Latest Essex County Town To See Unlocked Car Theft

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Several car break-ins and a stolen vehicle were reported in Livingston last weekend. In each instance the vehicles were unlocked. There was a key left in the stolen car, authorities said.

Other similar incidents involving unsecured vehicles have recently been reported in Essex County, including Nutley, South Orange, Montclair, North Caldwell, Bloomfield and Maplewood. (See below)

The Livingston Police Department issued the following advisory on Sunday:

“Overnight we had several cars entered and one stolen from the E Cedar St, Lee Rd, and Hampton Rd areas. Every car was left unlocked and the stolen car had the key left in it. If you live in those areas and have video cameras, can you please review your footage for anything suspicious? We believe it occurred between 12:30 and 2 a.m. Please contact our detective bureau if you have any information at [973-992-3000], ext. 3500. Remember to lock your cars and remove your keys as well.”

Other thefts and burglaries of unsecured vehicles have happened in the township’s recent past, according to Livingston police.

In September 2017, local residents reported a stolen car, an attempted theft and an auto break-in. After the incidents, Livingston police advised local car owners to lock car doors and remember not to leave key fobs in vehicles.

"The way we are going to stop them is by not giving them easy targets," the LPD stated.

• See related article: Livingston Police Say Car Thieves Are Back In Town

It’s not an issue unique to Livingston. Several nearby Essex County towns have also reported stolen vehicles or break-ins to unsecured cars in recent history:

Last week, Nutley police reminded residents to "be vigilant with securing valuables and locking their vehicles" after a string of recent auto burglaries. The vehicles were left unlocked, police said. (Read more here)

South Orange police recently advised local residents to lock their car doors as detectives investigate a wave of auto burglaries in the township. (Read more here)

In Montclair, a car was left running on Bloomfield Avenue prior to its theft in January 2018. (Read more here)

In December 2017, Bloomfield police reported a pair of stolen cars. One was left running and unoccupied; the other was left unlocked, the door ajar and the keys in the ignition, police said. (Read more here)

In November 2017, Maplewood police warned residents about multiple thefts from unlocked vehicles, as well as thefts of vehicles that had the keys left in them. (Read more here)

The North Caldwell Police Department said that it is “always reminding our residents to lock their cars and not leave the keys inside” after a car was stolen in the southern end of town in September 2017. (Read more here)

• See related article: Belleville Police: Arrests Made After 22 Burglaries, Thefts
• See related article: North Caldwell Sees Car Theft, Burglary Wave: Police

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